For many parents, returning to work after having a baby is the first – and biggest – hurdle to staying in a career. What can really help is knowing the possibilities, and having the transparent conversations that you need to have at work and at home so that both you and your team can plan ahead for your re-entry.
In this podcast, lawyer, author and entrepreneur Sandra Runge takes us through some of the options, starting with her own experience as a cautionary tale: when she came back to her job as head of a legal department 10 years ago, she found an empty office where her computer had been, was told that her role had been outsourced, handed her notice and sent home. Although she was devastated at the time, she says now that the experience changed her life for the better.
Today, she gives legal and professional advice to parents who want to return to work; she has set up kindergartens to provide childcare solutions for working parents; she runs campaigns for better legal frameworks as the co-founder of ProParents; and she has written a celebrated book – „Glückwunsch zum Baby, sie sind gefeuert!” – or “Congratulations on your baby, you’re fired!“
This podcast is full of invaluable advice for parents returning to work, including:
⭐️ Communicate! „Communication is one of the most important parts of a strategy coming back to work,” says Sandra. „Look for a conversation, ask for a meeting, come by when the baby is born, participate in activities of the company like a training day, or a summer party or Christmas party of whatever. Keep in contact with colleagues – and from time to time talk to your employer to ask for updates. I know you are in this baby bubble and it’s not always easy to go there – but it’s really good to be active and to show your face.” For employers, it’s a good idea to check in with your parental leavers from time to time.
⭐️ Be bold. “Ask for an onboarding after your parental leave,” suggests Sandra, so that you know „what will happen when you come back.” She suggests asking for a mentor too – it would benefit both you and your company.
⭐️ Cover your legal bases and put any important decisions on the record: „When you have meetings and your manager is saying part-time is no problem, fix it in a written form.“
⭐️ Be a role model. Family-friendly companies don’t necessarily need to make a big financial investment, says Sandra: „it’s more the mindset – that there are role models, managers in a higher position that work part time, fathers that work part time – that this is really the real life that is lived in the company.” You are a part of that!
Whatever your company’s policies, everyone can be proactive about removing those initial hurdles. If we all do it, we can change the narrative around parental leave and working parents, together ❤️
Speaker: Sandra Runge – lawyer, author, entrepreneur
Interviewer: Dr. Ricarda Engelmeier – Founder @MyCollective
Music: sponsored by @Michaelkadelbach
Picture: Manu Wolf / Sandra Runge
Graphic & Production: MyCollective
#getinspired #podcast #inspiration #MyCollective #parentalleave #elternzeit